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Prosecutor Sally Cairns said the defendant was living in a disused timber yard in Keele and was in an ongoing dispute with the owners when two workers entered the yard on January 10.

They had been instructed by the owner to carry out some demolition work.

Stafford Crown Court

Miss Cairns said: “No one was around so they used a saw to remove the chain and enter the site. One man started taking photos of the site. The defendant came out with a large black pig and shouted at him to get off his land.

“The defendant went back, but returned brandishing an axe. He went towards him holding the axe and went to the man’s car in a threatening manner, raising the axe above the bonnet. He stopped when the second man shouted, ‘What are you doing’?

“The first man tried to calm the defendant, saying they were going to take some photos and would leave shortly. But the defendant went up to him and, while holding the axe, struck him to the face and side of his head, causing him to go to the floor.

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Mr Turnock added that, if Broad was jailed, he would have no home on his release.

But imposing a prison sentence, Judge Paul Glenn told the defendant: “You still have a propensity for violence. There was no good reason for you to deliberately take an axe and brandish it at two workers.

“They were lawfully entitled to be on the premises and were simply trying to do their jobs. You lost control. Neither of them were any threat to you at all.

“You know the court must impose a custodial sentence. Only immediate custody is appropriate.”

The defendant was also ordered to pay £200 compensation and £1,200 costs.